Business Model Innovation Approaches for Managed Business Services: A Research Perspective

Abstract

Objective: In this article a selection of recent research papers from a range of recognized journals are reviewed to understand the recent trends and research gaps so as to develop possible research pointers that can integrate subject areas of Business Model Innovation, Open Innovation, Managed Services and Service Innovation. Since the primary interest of our research is around Managed Business Services, especially those digitally enabled service offering using IT as a horizontal enabler across the organizational functions, journal papers that are published in the recent decade starting 2008 were selected. Open innovation strategies for business model innovation are of great interest in research fraternity suggesting such openness can benefit organizations at various depth and breadth. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Based on the context of research and select related keywords, a conceptual model was devised to search and segregate the extant literature. Open innovation strategies, business model challenges, service infusion, IT and digitally enabled managed services models were considered as key themes of the collected articles. Appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria and search strategies were applied to identify relevant articles based on sub keys and their significance to the research content. Comprehending the abstracts, key findings and future research potential of the select articles were tabulated. Findings of such exercise were used to single out statistically relevant and appropriate context to fit in the proposed research model. Findings: The extant literature as we found are more generic than focusing on service organizations or service providers’ business models who are engaged in providing digitally enabled managed IT services. Since there is not much written about how managed business services models fit in this context, there is scope for probing what are the dimensions that such managed services operators can adopt by embracing open innovation. Applications/Improvements: This paper is an exploratory attempt to highlighting the linkages of open innovation and service innovation approaches for managed services and promoting the construct of managed business services moving away from contemporary managed IT services.